Unable to get measurements 12/13 weeks.

[UK2NO23]

I had my scan today at our local hospital and baby was bouncing around something fierce, they managed to see his brain, spine and hands and feet but struggled to get baby to a position that they could measure the length or neck. They tried both external and internal scans. As such we have no dating information other than a 9 week scan I had privately in the UK in November.

They have offered an appointment at the next closest hospital which is 10 hour drive (45mins plane) at the beginning of January but I don’t know if this is necessary or whether our situation is normal.

They didn’t state that they have any worries about the parts they could see and said it was optional to go. Otherwise our next scan will be the last day of January at around 18 weeks.

I’m unsure of what to do and whether to take the extra scan (would probably require time off work and possibly overnight stay even if we take plane)😩

Has anyone had any problems with measurements so early on? Is this something I should be worried about? It kind of put a dampener on what should have been a happy day 😔

Note: I don’t live in the UK, I just managed to get a private scan at 9 weeks when I was visiting family

As you had the private scan at 9 weeks and hospital can scan again in the end of January I wouldn't bother about beginning of January.

Thank you for the reply/advice! I was thinking this might be the best option as it’s only a few extra weeks but as it’s my first time I wasn’t sure how normal it was to not be able to get the measures or whether the option being given to us meant the hospital team were worried about something. Surely they’d have to tell me if there was a worry tho so I might be being a bit anxious for nothing. 😫

My baby was difficult at the 12 week scan OP and I had to go back but it was only a few days later. I’m not sure if you get offered it where you are anyway but it would mean you couldn’t have the combined screening test that we have in the UK if you waited. That’s about it though. My baby was fine at the 20 week scan, very active, I don’t think it means anything is wrong.

Ahh that makes me feel a bit better, when they first mentioned the other hospital it was originally going to be next week but I think the holiday season is what made it so much later. Thank you for your experience it’s definitely reassuring to hear ☺️ I’m not sure about the combined screening test if that’s an offering here, I will have to look into it, thank you!

My baby wouldn’t play ball at the 12 week scan either. They offered me a Down syndrome blood test when I was 14 weeks which came back fine and settled my anxiety around that. We’ve just had a private gender scan at 18 weeks (NHS don’t tell you at my trust) and she a lot more cooperative at that appointment and was absolutely fine, other than them thinking I’m 3 days further on than what the NHS told me but I was expecting that as I think I ovulated really early so would put me a week ahead of any standard dating anyway so this private scan now matches up exactly with my date estimate.

Aww brilliant, I’m glad to hear all came back well for you and congratulations on a little girl ☺️ I’m really glad to hear this isn’t so uncommon, it’s putting my mind at ease a bit now.

Another takeaway is I may need to brush up a bit more on what is and isn’t offered here as all my family have had babies in the UK and this is the first baby on my OHs family in a good twenty years so there’s not much to go on other than my own research.

We couldn't get measurements at the dating scan either, we were told to come back a week later. The same happened again the 2nd time, they eventually managed to get what they needed but it had to be checked by a senior sonographer as it was touch and go. I would say unless you need the specific measurements/tests then don't bother until the next scan. At this stage a baby bouncing around with a good heartbeat is a great sign that all is well.

That’s a really good way to put it actually, thank you ☺️ baby surely is happy enough if they’re bouncing about. Glad you finally managed to get what you need measurements wise. I think you might be right, will skip the scan and save ourselves the stress and flights ☺️

Thank you so much everyone for your insights, really grateful 🥰